Sally Gregory has been promoted to European vice-president for HR at ANC
Rental Corporation, a parent company of National Car Rental, Alamo Rent A Car
and Guy Salmon. She first joined the company as personnel manager after holding
a range of HR roles. Prior to this, she worked at a school in Leicestershire,
teaching biology to 14 to 18 year-olds.
How do you think the role of HR will change over the next five years?
Assuming the profession continues to attract high calibre, bright and intelligent
individuals, HR will continue to increase its influence on major business
decisions. The role of HR will also expand, particularly in the area of
internal communications and culture development.
Who is the ultimate guru?
David Brent.
What is your essential viewing?
The Office.
What’s the best thing about HR?
The value and appreciation people show for the support and guidance HR
provides. Being listed in the Financial Times’ Top 50 Workplaces was a great
achievement and recognition of HR’s influence.
And the worst?
When you’re the one they turn to when the toilets are flooding.
What is the strangest situation you have been in at work?
A judge in the company’s Pop Hero auditions, which were based on TV’s Pop
Idol.
How do you fill your spare time?
Watching the Leicester Tigers rugby team.
What is the essential tool in your job?
A fantastic team.
What advice would you give to people starting out in HR?
Build trust and respect for the way you can balance the commercial needs of
the business with what’s best for the people and the legal requirements. Show
early on that there are real business benefits in treating the people well.
Do you network?
No.
If you could do any job in the world, what would it be?
I don’t believe I could be any happier than doing the job I’m in right now.
What’s the best office party you’ve ever attended?
The best was this year’s company roadshow, where the Pop Hero finalists I
helped to select strutted their stuff.
Gregory’s cv
2002 HR vice-president for Europe,
ANC Rental Corporation
1992 Head of HR, ANC Rental Corporation
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1988 Personnel manager, ANC Rental Corporation
1986 Personnel officer, GEC Energy Systems
